Personal - Suits for the Theme #116

Hi Blog,

Recently, I found myself feeling deeply emotional after visiting a ward where some patients were under “Do Not Resuscitate” status. Many of them had no family members, friends, or anyone left to care for them. Some struggled with mobility or mental health issues, and others simply had no one waiting for them anymore. Seeing that reality was heavy — it made me wonder why life can feel so cruel to those who have no one.

For a while, I questioned myself: am I overthinking it? But I realised it wasn’t overthinking — it was empathy. It’s the part of us that quietly aches when we see suffering we can’t fix. Most people move on from such moments, but for some of us, the heart lingers a little longer.

Perhaps compassion doesn’t always mean doing something grand. Sometimes, it simply means being there — showing up, smiling, or bringing a spark of light into someone else’s day. Even if the world has forgotten them, for that brief moment, they are seen again.

Trip - Staying at Montigo Resort Batam

Hi Blog,

This year, I didn't go to Halloween night at USS, and I also wanted to visit some resorts in Bintan or other places with D. However, I can't forget that I spoiled D's mood during the trip. I think not just him; I also nearly spoiled HD before, too. So I decided to go on a solo staycation, but for this trip, I wanted to give one more chance to test other people's patience with me, so I got SKK to accompany me.

Anyway, I should stay focused on the topic. Today, I will be going to a resort in Batam, where I always ask my friends or colleagues why staycations in Batam don't have nice beaches.

Until I came to a website that always has special offers for civil servants, I found that this resort would be my first staycation, which I decided to try: Montigo Resort at Batam.

Blog - October Overview

Hi Blog,

Looking back at my past, I realise how much of my struggles were shaped by what I didn’t receive when I was younger. I grew up without much affirmation from my parents or adults around me, and over time, I found myself silently craving it. That gap has followed me into adulthood, where I sometimes look to others to validate my efforts or worth. It isn’t about attention or recognition; it’s about a part of me that never had the chance to feel acknowledged.

What I’ve realised is that it’s not just about affirmation itself. It’s about the kind of affirmation that reaches me.

I don’t need big, fancy words or people showering me with compliments. In fact, those things often feel cheap and empty to me. I don’t need to be in the spotlight or have the loudest applause; I never belonged on that stage. What I long for is sincerity. A smile that says, “I see what you did,” or someone describing in their own words that they understand what I’ve gone through—that means everything to me. It makes me feel that my effort and experience are not being overlooked. I don’t need more than that. A genuine response is all that's needed.

Personal - Halloween Celebration @ Woodgrove

Hi Blog,

Happy Halloween! I had been anticipating today for a while. I'd been thinking about what to dress up as these days. Some costumes appeared to be in the works, and I've been wanting to cosplay as... for quite some time now.

My Tron-Spidey costume, which I acquired in 2017. (blog link)

Let me give myself a chance to try this! Anyway, back on topic. Woodgrove's annual Halloween event takes place today! (thenewparents website) So exciting!

Personal - Swimming Theme #17

Hi Blog,

When I was young, I loved swimming even though I was never good at it and had a mediocre body. I used to watch those confident ones glide smoothly across the pool while I swam near the edge, quietly wishing I could be like them; I just envied them. In my schooling time, swimming competitions were common, and I remember one of my classmates who stood out — not just for his skills, but for his confidence. While everyone wore black trunks, he wore a blue one. It wasn’t the colour that caught my attention, but the courage behind it.

“Confidence isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s the quiet wish to feel at ease in your own skin.”

Since then, I told myself that one day, I would wear something that gave me the same courage he had. When I looked around the shops, almost everything was black or darker blue — safe colours, but they all felt so meh to me. They lacked the life and confidence I was searching for. Then, I saw a celebrity in a magazine wearing a white trunk — he looked confident, natural, and free. (you may read more here) White was my favourite colour too, and it felt like it represented something I longed for: purity and self-belief. I searched everywhere for one, and when I finally found it after months and nearly years of looking, I felt like I had achieved something small but deeply personal.